Other books that might interest you

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  The Idiot Part 1

  Fyodor Dostoevsky

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  Prince Myshkin, a naive and pure-hearted man, returns to Russia after years in a Swiss sanatorium. His innocence and compassion stand in stark contrast to the greed, corruption, and moral decay of St. Petersburg’s elite. As he becomes entangled in the lives of Rogozhin, a volatile merchant consumed by jealousy, and Nastasya Filippovna, a proud yet vulnerable woman torn between love and self-destruction, themes of virtue, beauty, and suffering emerge. Dostoevsky crafts a poignant exploration of human nature, questioning whether true goodness can survive in a flawed world. A masterpiece of psychological depth and philosophical inquiry.

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  Pyotr: The Life and Music of...

  Steve Moretti, Paul van Geldrop

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  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was bestowed with a rare musical gift, but burdened by demons of self-doubt and passions forbidden in 19th century Russia. 
  He struggled to release the music inside his head. And equally, to find romantic fulfillment that always remained just beyond his reach. He was deeply affected by the women in his life – those he loved, those he despised, and those whose affection he longed so badly to hold. Yet, aside from music, his truest passion was reserved only for men. 
  Tchaikovsky refused to abide by the rules of the musical establishment of his time. Assailed by critics as being ‘neither Russian nor German,’ he endured scathing criticism, which he often took to heart, destroying many of his own ‘imperfect’ compositions. 
  This compelling new work takes you inside the head of Pyotr – from age seven to his untimely death at fifty-three. It also provides a layman’s guide to his music and his musical influences, and the techniques Tchaikovsky used to chart his musical destiny. 
  Reader comments: 
  “I love it! It's moving and makes me want to hear the music.” 
  "Flawlessly researched and completely engaging." 
  “You cry out in anguish as your mother and sisters disappear into the distance, leaving you all alone in a strange place, at such a tender young age; or wince in pain with lashings from the tutor.” 
  “As a musician myself, I nodded in understanding as Pyotr describes how the music of Mozart moves him to tears, while the notes appear as pictures in his mind.” 
  “I appreciated the intimate focus on Pyotr.” 
  “I felt compelled to play some Tchaikovsky after reading this, and settled on the first movement of the Manfred symphony.” 
  Go behind the scenes and journey into the life and music of one of the world’s most popular composers with Pyotr - The Life and Music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

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  My Father and Other Animals -...

  Sam Vincent

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  A moving and hilarious fish-out-of-water memoir of a millennial leaving his inner-city life to take over the family farm. 
  Sam Vincent is a twenty-something writer in the inner suburbs, scrabbling to make ends meet, when he gets a call from his mother: his father has stuck his hand in a woodchipper, but ‘not to worry – it wasn’t like that scene in Fargo or anything’. When Sam returns to the family farm to help out, his life takes a new and unexpected direction. 
   
  Whether castrating a calf or buying a bull – or knocking in a hundred fence posts by hand when his dad hides the post-driver – Sam’s farming apprenticeship is an education in grit and shit. But there are victories, too: nurturing a fig orchard to bloom; learning to read the land; joining forces with Indigenous elders to protect a special site. Slowly, Sam finds himself thinking differently about the farm, about his father and about his relationship with both. 
   
  By turns affecting, hilarious and utterly surprising, this memoir melds humour and fierce honesty in an unsentimental love letter. It’s about belonging, humility and regeneration – of land, family and culture. What passes from father to son on this unruly patch of earth is more than a livelihood; it is a legacy.

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  Into my Hands - A Midwife’s Memoir

  Catherine Rae Shields

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  "Into My Hands" is an intimate and inspiring memoir that delves into the life of a passionate midwife, tracing her path from childhood to her fulfilling career in midwifery. This poignant narrative was born from a transformative moment in the author's early twenties, following a traumatic birth experience with her own daughter. It was then that she resolved to put an end to birth trauma and dedicate her life to supporting women during the sacred journey of childbirth. 
  With a background as a labor and delivery nurse and a nurse-midwife, she embarked on a remarkable journey to achieve her mission. In her role, she went above and beyond to provide comfort, aid, and unwavering reassurance to mothers in their birthing moments. "Into My Hands" is not only a personal account but also a tribute to the countless mothers she had the privilege to work with, as they generously share their own unique birth stories. 
  This memoir beautifully captures the profound impact of having a midwife's skilled and caring hands present during childbirth. It's a testament to the strength, resilience, and the incredible bond that forms between midwives and the women they serve. Through this book, readers will gain a deep appreciation for the transformative power of compassionate care during one of life's most extraordinary experiences.

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  Lieutenant General James...

  F. Gregory Toretta

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  A “fascinating and informative” reassessment of the underappreciated Confederate general’s achievements and ahead-of-his-time military strategy (Midwest Book Review).   Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, commander of the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, was a brilliant tactician and strategist. Prior to the Civil War there were many technological developments, of which the rifled musket and cannon, rail transport, and the telegraph were just a few. In addition, the North enjoyed a great advantage in manpower and resources. Longstreet adapted to these technological changes and the disparity between the belligerents, making recommendations on how the war should be fought.   Longstreet made a mental leap to adjust to this new type of warfare. Many others didn’t make this leap, including Lee, Jackson, Bragg, Hood, and Jefferson Davis, and Longstreet’s advice went unheeded. In contrast to many southern generals, he advocated for defensive warfare, using entrenchments and trying to maneuver the enemy to assault his position, conserving manpower, resources, and supplies. With the advent of the highly accurate and long-range rifled musket, offensive tactics became questionable and risky. This caused Longstreet to come into conflict with General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, and with General Bragg at Chickamauga.   Longstreet, a pragmatic and methodical general, was never given full authority over an army in the field. Had his suggestions been utilized there would have been a better outcome for the South. Many historians and biographers have misunderstood Longstreet and his motives, but this work offers a fresh perspective. It takes a new viewpoint of the Civil War and the generals who tailored their designs to pursue the war, analyzes Longstreet’s views of the generals and the tactics and strategy they employed, and examines why Longstreet proposed and urged a new type of warfare.

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  The Gift of Failure

  Ari Rastegar

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  “Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” —Napoleon HillIf you haven’t failed, then you aren’t trying hard enough.Not just the little failures either—the big ones.The failures that push you to the edge of insanity and potentially put your entire career in jeopardy. The failures that knock you to the ground and won’t let you back up without fighting for your life. The failures that force you to ask better questions, to learn from your mistakes, and to commit to becoming a better person.These are the failures that plant the seeds of greatness.Everything Ari Rastegar has achieved was forged through failure. From delivering pizzas at DoubleDave’s to his rise as real estate’s “Oracle of Austin” (Forbes)—and every step (and misstep) in between—Ari owes his success not to what he did right but to what he did wrong.In The Gift of Failure, Ari pulls back the curtain on his darkest moments—revealing the hard-earned lessons from his struggles, showing why prosperity in any enterprise is linked to prosperity in life. Full of Ari’s trademark wit, energy, compassion, and candor, this book will help you see failure in an entirely new way.

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